Welcome to Queerty’s latest entry in our series, Queerantined: Daily Dose. Every weekday as long as the COVID-19 pandemic has us under quarantine, we’ll release a suggested bit of gloriously queer entertainment designed to keep you from getting stir crazy in the house. Each weekend, we will also suggest a binge-able title to keep you extra engaged.
The Tricky: Trick
This gay rom-com from 1999–or, the closest thing we had to one at the time–helped cement the career of actor Christian Campbell as an indie darling, and hinted at the self-deprecating comic ability Tori Spelling would show in her later career. Campbell stars as Gabriel, a frustrated composer living in New York. When his friends suggest a little sex might help with his writer’s block, he couples with Mark (John Paul Pitoc), a sexy gogo dancer from a local club. The problem: the two guys can’t find a decent place to hook up. Mishap after mishap follows, as Gabriel begins to question Mark’s motives, and the two begin to realize they may have an interest in each other beyond sex.
In the age of Grindr, there’s something undeniably quaint and sweet about Trick, possibly more so than when the movie opened to mixed reviews at Sundance. Campbell & Pitoc have adorable chemistry, and Spelling, as well as Coco Peru, have memorable supporting turns. Trick doesn’t exactly break down new barriers of cinematic storytelling, but it does tell an entertaining story. Besides, with Trick 2 in pre-production, and with most of the original cast reprising their roles for the sequel, we think now’s as good a time as any to revisit the original and get ahead of the curve.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Dan Renzi
I wrote a story years ago about the most beloved queer films, as chosen by film festival directors. I specifically asked the directors to not name the “best” films, but to name their “favorites.” And “Trick” was close to the top of the list. Tori Spelling is a revelation in this movie!
MacAdvisor
I think Tori should have won the Academy Award for her performance here. It is the best. If I ever meet here, I am going to rave about this movie and her part. I love this little movie, I really do.
Cam
Spelling, so many of us know that girl, she was fantastic.
Also, the film captured that energy of the optimistic energy of the big city, starting out, etc… really well done.
Funbud
Very sweet and optimistic film. A bit draggy at times, but that’s a minor flaw. Definitely a refreshing change from many indie gay films of the time with their downer endings. I really hated the films where a couple of hustlers, for instance, were going to get out of the life and then one of them ends up dead in the last reel. Tiresome cliche.
Cam
@Funbud
Let me guess, “The Living End”? 🙂
jayceecook
@Funbud Sounds like “Johns”. Man that scene near the end is brutal. Realistic unfortunately.
Josh447
Definite icandy and well scripted and played. Definitely worth the time to watch these two make magic.
jayceecook
I adore this movie. Was a teen when it came out and had to secretly get my hands on it and watch it late at night so my Mom wouldn’t hear. LOL This was also my introduction to Miss Peru. That bathroom scene is iconic.
I never thought much of Tori Spelling when I watched 90210. Felt she was overrated. But she intrigued me in this. She took a small part and really just put her all into it. Sad that she never built on the momentum she got from this film.
They were supposed to make a sequel last year or this year. But they’ve gone radio silent after posting some reunion pics and talk of what the plot would entail. Don’t know how I feel about a part 2. The story would really have to be amazing. Not everyone call pull off a Richard Linklater “Before” sequel or trilogy.
Josh447
I had to ff during Torii Spelling, too much of a yawn. And Puru. Not a drag fan, but other than that the show was very entertaining.
Ajsdny
I remember this as a lovely film. I also remember how odd it was to see a movie set in NYC with virtually no people of color. You’d have to work pretty hard to white wash the city to that extent.
Funbud
They might have done better, but there were African Americans in the dance club scene. Not sure about the subway scene; have not seen the film in a while.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Great way to spend however many minutes it clocks it. Gabe was adorkable….
dhmonarch89
I saw this in the theater- loved it and so did the packed house….the late 90s was a good time for gay cinema. Favorite part- Coco Peru- ‘IT BURNS!!!!!!!!!’
Cam
So many films from before the time Trick came out seem to have been so dark, Trick with it’s happy energy is a breath of fresh air compared to them.
Jerry
Coco is an Icon.
Terrycloth
What ruined the movie Trick for me was the annoying as hell Tory spelling role. Every time it was her screen time , would fast forward her scenes..she got on my last nerve , just would NOT shut up.i thought she brought what was a great story down .
Cam
I think a lot of people who watched it may have known somebody like her. Someone self centered, a little obsessed with you, who was overall a good friend, but took a lot of energy and maybe they ended up growing up a little as time went on.
For me it was familiar, but yeah, the character was annoying, but recognizable. lol
Josh447
Tori and her part were just really bad fill in. I thought it was very poor scripting. Too long. Boring and annoying for sure.
Funbud
I enjoyed Tori’s performance, particularly her meltdown. It made sense that Gabriel, sweet and a bit passsive, would have an overbearing friend, particularly one from “the THEATRE”!
Harley
One thing for sure, John Paul Pitoc did not age well.
Kangol2
Like spoiled milk, hunty!
dirk6665
That’s too bad – he was really hot in this flick. When he’s dancing on the bar his package was all but knocking people off their barstools 😛 TBH – I was somewhat infatuated with him throughout the movie (and for a short time after XD )
dirk6665
This gay love story was a bit campy at times and I agree with others that Tori’s part was annoying (I think that’s exactly how they wanted her to come across) – but it was a cute love story with all the pieces of naive innocence, humor, lust, yearning …. and was happy the ending left us to leave with a smile instead of despair.
LetsGetLit
I guess it’s worth noting that this movie was produced around the same time as the first edition of American Pie. Not sure if it parallels this movie but it may be worth discussing.